asked the Minister for Education whether he is aware that certificates have not yet been issued to the students who were successful at the Intermediate Certificate Examinations held in June, 1925; that the delay in the issue of these certificates has caused and is still causing considerable inconvenience and financial loss to the students to whom they were awarded, inasmuch as in the absence of the certificates it is practically impossible to furnish to prospective employers and others satisfactory evidence of educational qualifications; and whether the Minister will take the necessary steps to have the certificates issued without further delay.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - ISSUE OF INTERMEDIATE CERTIFICATES.
Only a small number of the certificates awarded to students as the result of the examination referred to have yet been issued, but I am not aware that the delay has caused inconvenience and loss, as arrangements were made to issue certificates to students requiring them for any special purpose who made application for them; forty-five certificates have already been issued in such circumstances. Arrangements are being made in my Department at present for the preparation and the issue as soon as possible of all the certificates awarded.
Will the Minister give any indication as to when all the certificates will be issued? Students are not aware that they can obtain certificates in the form indicated by the Minister.
A certificate will be issued specially to any student who requires it, but I could not indicate when the whole batch will be issued. That depends on the other work of the Department, and the relative importance of the work being done.